REALIZING AN AGE-OLD DREAM
| |
REALIZING AN AGE-OLD DREAM |
|
The Bay Circuit - An Original Bay State Concept: First proposed in
1929 as an outer "emerald necklace," linking parks, open spaces and
waterways from Plum Island to Kingston Bay, the Bay Circuit idea -
a precursor of today's national greenways movement - continues to
take shape. Focused on a 200 mile corridor of 50 cities and
towns, the Bay Circuit Trail connects the "jewels" of the "emerald
necklace."
Community by community, the dream of connecting more than 85 areas of
protected land in a greenway around Boston is now becoming a reality.
|
| ||||||||
|
Recent Progress: When completed, the main line of the Bay Circuit Trail will
extend 200 miles from Kingston Bay on the south to Plum Island, Newburyport,
on the north. During Trek 2000 six hikers completed the entire 200 mile
trail in sixteen days. About 50 miles required temporary permission from
several major land owners, including the Mass. Electric Company (National
Grid), the Mass Turnpike Authority, the Mass Water Resources Authority, and
two state transportation agencies. Since Trek 2000 BCA has worked to extend these
temporary permissions and complete several other sections. These efforts will bear fruit
this year (2006). Two southern tier towns, Hanson and Pembroke, will open
15 miles of BCT on National Trails Day in June. Negotiations with Mass Turnpike for a
short but very strategic BCT connection in Ashland and with Mass Electric for a
utility trail that allows completion of Easton's 11 mile BCT are nearing agreement.
The Bruce Freeman Bike Trail will provide 10 more miles of BCT (and the first
multi-use paved rail trail) between Lowell and Acton. This project is ready for construction
but plagued with continuing delays. All together, these projects account for 36 of the remaining 50 miles, and work continues on the other gaps. The balance of 14 miles is
located in the towns of East Bridgewater, Bridgewater, Sudbury, Lowell, and Rowley.
Not withstanding the gaps, the Bay Circuit Trail is now a reality.
It is possible (with appropriate detours) for hikers to traverse the entire 200 mile
trail, and several groups and individuals have done so.
| |||||||||
Current Status:
| |||||||||
[Return to Bay Circuit home page]